Update 12/4/2018: The Smith family made headlines again recently, this time for a bittersweet reason. The Smiths lost their home to Hurricane Florence earlier this year and planned a surprise homecoming for Charlotte when her father returned from his fourth deployment in Afghanistan. The family was able to find a new home after an overwhelming outpouring of support from friends, loved ones and even strangers. You can read more about their amazing story here and watch the surprise reunion in the related video above.Original article 12/20/2017: Posing for a Christmas card can be a daunting task for any family, but if your spouse is serving overseas like Andrea Smith's husband, making that decision is just one more reminder that you're not going to be together for the holidays.At 28, this is Andrea's third deployment experience with her husband, Marine Staff Sergeant Andrew Smith, 29. But it is also their daughter, Charlotte's, second time saying goodbye to her father for an unknown amount of time. Charlotte is only three."We try to include him in our everyday lives as much as possible — whether that’s with his daddy pillow or his recording of him reading a book before he left so that she could hear his voice every night. We do the best we can with the lifestyle that we have chosen to live. And make the best of it," says Andrea Smith.So it is with that attitude and that resilience that Andrea and Andrew approached this year's Christmas card."She wanted a Christmas card and she wanted a way to include Andrew into it. Andrea had the original idea to take the picture at Target because it’s her daughter Charlotte’s favorite store," says photographer Leslie Owen.Yes, Target."I have no idea why she loves Target so much, but she is obsessed. Any one she sees, she wants to go in. Every time we drive past she asks, 'Mommy, can we go in?' So it’s kind of funny, and that’s really why we chose Target. Because it made it lighter and Andrew was like, 'Yeah that’s definitely her favorite store,'" said Andrea.But picking the location was the easy part. Andrea and Leslie didn't just want to put two pictures together side by side, they wanted to make it appear like he was actually in the moment.So that meant Andrew and Andrea would have to coordinate across time zones and assignments, but the young couple made it work.Stateside, Andrea first had to get Charlotte's outfit."And she specifically had to wear those red shoes. I had to buy the red shoes. So the morning we were getting ready she says 'OK mom, I get to wear my red shoes, right?' and 'I said yes, Charlotte you get to wear your red shoes.'"When they arrived at Target, with Charlotte in her red shoes and their long time photographer Leslie Owen, Andrea did her best to explain the concept for the photo to Charlotte."I said 'Charlotte, I’m going to hold you on top of this cart and you’re going to pretend like you’re grabbing toys.' And she says, 'Well do I get to keep them?' So yes, I did buy her a toy," Andrea says while laughing.As for Andrew, he recruited a couple of his buddies to take countless pictures of him, hoping one would work for the card."He would send me a few and ask if they were OK. And obviously the communication is different because it’s a totally different time zone so when I would see them, he would be sleeping."Then when Andrea would reply via email he would send some more."He really was a great sport, through this whole thing he’s been so supportive. We totally are his girls. That’s what he says all the time — 'I’ll do anything for my girls.' He’s very involved, even though he’s miles and miles away."Leslie ended up using one of the first shots Andrew sent, and merged the pictures in a way that looks like Andrew is catching Charlotte his side of the world."When first saw it, she burst into tears because she said it was the first time she had seen her family together in a while," said Leslie.Charlotte couldn't believe it either. "When the picture was complete she was in awe. And she said, 'Mommy that’s you, and that’s Charlotte, and that’s daddy!' She was so thankful that we were all together in the picture, it was really cute.""It came out beautifully. I’m just so thankful that he was able to help us and that his guys were able to help us too, because we wouldn’t have been able to get the photo without them."There were many people involved in bringing this vision to life. But in the every day life of a military wife, having a a village of supporters to count on makes all the difference."I can’t even tell you how much they mean to me. I always say it takes a village and you have to create your own tribe. My support system will always be my mom and my sister, they’re my best friends. But I’ll always have my military friends and civilian friends that I can count on when I need that extra support. Even if they’re states away. Regardless of where they are, they’re still there for me no matter the time, no matter the day," says Andrea.Andrea and Charlotte may not be serving overseas, but they are serving this country. Charlotte is one of 1.2 million children with parents on active duty. Her life will likely consists of many re-locations, new schools, and days of missing her dad. The emotional toll is just one of the sacrifices military families are forced to bear, but according to Andrea, one of the best things military families can do is to remember they're not alone."I would say definitely cherish the moments you have with them and know that if you’re not with the loved one that you want to be home right now or they’re not here with you, know that there are many families going through the same thing with you and you’re not alone.""I just want to spread some holiday cheer to those going through the same holiday situation as us, I know that it’s hard and I’m there with you it’s rough, but everyone can be there for each other in spite of that."Well it seems that the Smiths, Leslie Owen, and Andrew's Marine buddies accomplished that goal. Since being posted to Facebook on December 8th, the photo has been shared over 400 times, inspiring military families near and far.

Update 12/4/2018: The Smith family made headlines again recently, this time for a bittersweet reason. The Smiths lost their home to Hurricane Florence earlier this year and planned a surprise homecoming for Charlotte when her father returned from his fourth deployment in Afghanistan. The family was able to find a new home after an overwhelming outpouring of support from friends, loved ones and even strangers. You can read more about their amazing story here and watch the surprise reunion in the related video above.

Original article 12/20/2017: Posing for a Christmas card can be a daunting task for any family, but if your spouse is serving overseas like Andrea Smith's husband, making that decision is just one more reminder that you're not going to be together for the holidays.

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At 28, this is Andrea's third deployment experience with her husband, Marine Staff Sergeant Andrew Smith, 29. But it is also their daughter, Charlotte's, second time saying goodbye to her father for an unknown amount of time. Charlotte is only three.

"We try to include him in our everyday lives as much as possible — whether that’s with his daddy pillow or his recording of him reading a book before he left so that she could hear his voice every night. We do the best we can with the lifestyle that we have chosen to live. And make the best of it," says Andrea Smith.

So it is with that attitude and that resilience that Andrea and Andrew approached this year's Christmas card.

"She wanted a Christmas card and she wanted a way to include Andrew into it. Andrea had the original idea to take the picture at Target because it’s her daughter Charlotte’s favorite store," says photographer Leslie Owen.

Yes, Target.

"I have no idea why she loves Target so much, but she is obsessed. Any one she sees, she wants to go in. Every time we drive past she asks, 'Mommy, can we go in?' So it’s kind of funny, and that’s really why we chose Target. Because it made it lighter and Andrew was like, 'Yeah that’s definitely her favorite store,'" said Andrea.

But picking the location was the easy part. Andrea and Leslie didn't just want to put two pictures together side by side, they wanted to make it appear like he was actually in the moment.

So that meant Andrew and Andrea would have to coordinate across time zones and assignments, but the young couple made it work.

Stateside, Andrea first had to get Charlotte's outfit.

"And she specifically had to wear those red shoes. I had to buy the red shoes. So the morning we were getting ready she says 'OK mom, I get to wear my red shoes, right?' and 'I said yes, Charlotte you get to wear your red shoes.'"

When they arrived at Target, with Charlotte in her red shoes and their long time photographer Leslie Owen, Andrea did her best to explain the concept for the photo to Charlotte.

"I said 'Charlotte, I’m going to hold you on top of this cart and you’re going to pretend like you’re grabbing toys.' And she says, 'Well do I get to keep them?' So yes, I did buy her a toy," Andrea says while laughing.

As for Andrew, he recruited a couple of his buddies to take countless pictures of him, hoping one would work for the card.

"He would send me a few and ask if they were OK. And obviously the communication is different because it’s a totally different time zone so when I would see them, he would be sleeping."

Then when Andrea would reply via email he would send some more.

"He really was a great sport, through this whole thing he’s been so supportive. We totally are his girls. That’s what he says all the time — 'I’ll do anything for my girls.' He’s very involved, even though he’s miles and miles away."

Leslie ended up using one of the first shots Andrew sent, and merged the pictures in a way that looks like Andrew is catching Charlotte his side of the world.

"When [Andrea] first saw it, she burst into tears because she said it was the first time she had seen her family together in a while," said Leslie.

Charlotte couldn't believe it either.

"When the picture was complete she was in awe. And she said, 'Mommy that’s you, and that’s Charlotte, and that’s daddy!' She was so thankful that we were all together in the picture, it was really cute."

"It came out beautifully. I’m just so thankful that he was able to help us and that his guys were able to help us too, because we wouldn’t have been able to get the photo without them."

There were many people involved in bringing this vision to life. But in the every day life of a military wife, having a a village of supporters to count on makes all the difference.

"I can’t even tell you how much they mean to me. I always say it takes a village and you have to create your own tribe. My support system will always be my mom and my sister, they’re my best friends. But I’ll always have my military friends and civilian friends that I can count on when I need that extra support. Even if they’re states away. Regardless of where they are, they’re still there for me no matter the time, no matter the day," says Andrea.

Andrea and Charlotte may not be serving overseas, but they are serving this country. Charlotte is one of 1.2 million children with parents on active duty. Her life will likely consists of many re-locations, new schools, and days of missing her dad. The emotional toll is just one of the sacrifices military families are forced to bear, but according to Andrea, one of the best things military families can do is to remember they're not alone.

"I would say definitely cherish the moments you have with them and know that if you’re not with the loved one that you want to be home right now or they’re not here with you, know that there are many families going through the same thing with you and you’re not alone."

"I just want to spread some holiday cheer to those going through the same holiday situation as us, I know that it’s hard and I’m there with you it’s rough, but everyone can be there for each other in spite of that."

Well it seems that the Smiths, Leslie Owen, and Andrew's Marine buddies accomplished that goal. Since being posted to Facebook on December 8th, the photo has been shared over 400 times, inspiring military families near and far.